Nikki van Leeuwen

The role of acculturation in suicidal ideation among second-generation immigrant adolescents in France.

This study explored the contributions of sociocultural and psychopathological factors to suicidal ideation among adolescents. A sample of 292 French high school students with an immigrant background completed a questionnaire assessing suicidal ideation, borderline personality traits, depressive symptoms, parental attachment, life events, acculturation orientations, ethnic identity, cannabis and alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status and academic failure. Although stressful life events, depressive symptoms, and individualism were risk factors, and attachment to parents a protective factor for both boys and girls, some gender differences emerged. Borderline traits (risk factor), assimilation and marginalization (both protective factors) were significant predictors only among girls.

Relative contributions of acculturation and psychopathological factors to cannabis use among adolescents from migrant parents

Immigrant adolescents and adolescents born of immigrant parents are at increased risk of substance use which has been linked to difficulties in acculturation processes. However very few studies have examined the role of the different acculturation strategies and none of them have controlled for relevant psychopathological and socio-familial factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of acculturation in cannabis use in a sample of adolescents born of immigrant parents taking into account potential confounding variables. A sample of 292 high school students born in France from at least one foreign parent completed a questionnaire assessing cannabis use, acculturation orientations, ethnic identity and the most relevant potential confounders (depressive symptoms, sensation seeking, borderline and psychopathic traits, alcohol and tobacco use, parental attachment, life events, socioeconomic status and academic achievement). A regression analysis showed that acculturation orientations and ethnic identity explained a significant part of the variance in the frequency of cannabis use. Individualism, integration and assimilation were negatively associated with the frequency of cannabis use suggesting they might serve as protective factors.

Cannabis use and delinquent behaviors in a non-clinical sample of adolescents.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of cannabis to the prediction of delinquent behaviors. Participants were 615 high-school students who completed self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that cannabis use was a significant independent predictor of delinquent behaviors after adjustment for alcohol use, psychopathological and socio-familial variables. Cannabis use was associated with greater numbers of delinquent behaviors among adolescents with higher scores on psychopathic traits or depressive symptoms.

Callous-unemotional traits and antisocial behavior among adolescents: the role of self-serving cognitions.

Self-serving cognitions and callous-unemotional traits play important roles in adolescent antisocial behavior. The objective of this study was to cross-sectionally explore the mediating role of self-serving cognitions in the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and antisocial behavior. A sample of 972 high-school students completed self-report questionnaires assessing callous-unemotional traits, self-serving cognitive distortions and antisocial behavior. Two competing models exploring indirect effects accounting for the relationships between self-serving cognitive distortions, callous-unemotional traits and antisocial behaviors were tested. Both models revealed significant indirect effects, suggesting both pathways are possible. Gender was found to moderate these models. These findings suggest the importance of targeting self-serving cognitions in therapeutic interventions and increase our understanding of the role of self-serving cognitions in antisocial behavior.

Relations between acculturation orientations and antisocial behavior in adolescents and young adults from immigrant families

The aim of this cross-sectional school-based cohort study was to explore the relations between acculturation orientations and antisocial behavior in adolescents from immigrant families. Among 972 French high-school students, 251 were first- second- and third-generation immigrant adolescents. Adolescents with immigrant background reported higher levels of antisocial behavior than non-immigrant adolescents. Separation (rejection of the host culture) had the highest rates of endorsement after integration (biculturalism) and showed a unique association with antisocial behavior after controlling for other cultural, psychopathological and socio-familial variables.

Exploratory study of the relations between sadistic traits and suicidality in a nonclinical sample of adolescents

The present study explored the relations between sadistic traits and suicidality in nonclinical adolescents. Participants were 615 high-school students who completed self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that self-reported sadistic traits explained unique variance in self-reported suicidality among both genders. This result is confronted with the psychodynamic hypothesis linking sadism turned inward and suicidality.

Impact of antisocial behavior on psychopathic traits in a community sample of adolescents

The objective of this study was to cross-sectionally explore the mediating role of self-serving cognitions in the relationship between antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. A sample of 970 high school students completed self-report questionnaires assessing antisocial behavior, cognitive distortions, and psychopathic traits. Cognitive distortions partially mediated (and gender moderated) the relationship between antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Gender was found to moderate this relationship. Longitudinal studies would permit a fuller understanding of how these relationships interrelate-an understanding that may have important implications for clinical intervention.